Vintage 2026
2026 will be remembered as a vintage where our intent met opportunity, and we delivered. From the outset, we set ourselves up for success. Thoughtfully managed, smaller crops reduced the viticultural risk and sharpened our focus on quality from the start. The season held huge promise, but it didn't come without its moments.
An early harvest loomed fast, compressed and not what Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc thrives on. February changed the script with cooler conditions and summer rains, slowing everything down, and early autumn, with cold 2 to 3 degree nights, switched to fine, dry classic Marlborough conditions. The vines responded well with more hang time for the fruit, building flavour, accumulating weight, and achieving complete ripeness and maturity. Low disease pressure, open canopies and a rapid harvest helped minimise the risk and protect grape purity whilst keeping acidity up.
Our viticulture and winemaking team are world-class and deeply experienced in handling the season with precision. We were able to move fast. A highly coordinated harvest, largely completed within 14 days, meant we picked block by block, decisively, exactly when the grapes reached their peak and before the rains.
That speed is our edge. The ability to harvest quicker than most allowed us to extend time on the vine without compromise, capturing the full spectrum of our coastal Marlborough vineyards' expression at optimal ripeness.
The result: Purity locked in - Flavour intensity amplified - Regional character clearly defined, and full ripeness = weight and palate richness.
Our 2026 Sauvignon Blanc shows depth, energy, and precision. It's bold, expressive and unmistakably Marlborough, with a richness and completeness that gives us the competitive advantage.
Another outstanding vintage. Another step ahead!
